Movable underwater compressed air working chamber with controlled buoyancy



ogg. 3, 195o` c. GOODMAN MovABLE UNDERWATER coMPREssED AIR WORKING 2524382 CHAMBER WITH CONTROLLED BUOYANCY Filed Jan. 15, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 3 1950 c. GOODMAN MovABLE UNDERWATER coMPREssED AIR WORKING 25241382 CHAMBER wrm coNTRoLLED BuoYANcY Y Enea aan. 1s, 1947. s sheets-sheet z HIS ATTORNEY Oct. 3 1950 c. GOODMAN y MOVABLE UNDERWATER COMPRESSED AIR WORKING CHAMBER WITH CONTROLLED BUOYANCY Filed Jan. 1s, 1947 I :ssheets-sneet s my? bw/mf,

INVENTOR www Patented Oct. 3, 1,950

BUOYANCY WORKINGCHAMBER WITH CONTROLL charlot Goodman, Nett York, Y.- Appi-cation January 13, 194i, S-erial o. L

This invention 'relates to methods 'and means for underwater construction, and represents modifications and changes in the subjectmatter of rmy cio-pending application, Methods and Means for Underwater Construction, filed A1i` gust 1, 1946, Ser. No. 687,751. f

The main object of .my presentinventiori is to 'provide a compressed air underwater werkev i11g` Chamber, tlf@ buOII'lCY 0f Which may be C011- trolld, s'o that it may be caused to'rise Y'll'pvifardly and sink downwardly, or' 'to doet et a desired position.

Another object of thisr invention is to provide a device, as characterized hereinbe-fore,l which may be causedl to descend or rise' automatically withot any other mechanical aid or hoisting' device'.

Still 'a further object of this invention is to provide a device of this type, which may be secured in its working p'oition at the bottom of the structure, 'vvhere it is in operation, `or in any position in such structure, partclllarlyV a cylinder or shaft in which it is located.

AS in the detfic O'f my mentioned (z-pending application, the present device also consists of.

a compressed air |lock chamber, and a downwardly' open working chamber thereunder, the

device to be controlled from the lock chamber,

but seid 4two chambers being separable, so that the working chamber may be left independently at the placeV of the operation, while the air lock chamber may rise.

F-lrth'er objects 0f this invention vWill be' aipparent as the 'Specification' of the saine proceeds, and partly will be pointed 'out therein,A In'the` drawings forming a -part of this specification, and accompanying the Same:

Fig'. 1 is a semi-diagrammatical sectional View of a preferred embodiment of my 'underwater compressed air Working chamber With adjustable buoyancy;

Fig. 2 isl a'transverse'secti'onal View thereof, being taken on the line 2'-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is' e top plan View thereof,- Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional View adjacent to the bottoni Of it, as indicated by the line in Fig'. 1, thie View being on' a s'r'nalle'r scale' than 'theA earlier figures, and

Fig. 5 is a' sectional view of a' swing'abl'e platform member arranged adjacent to said' bottom; Fig. 6 is an enlargedv detail Showing the `re` leasable watertight securing means between an air lock and a working chamber proper of' my deYc- Refer'lir'gf hcw tothe drawings more in detail' o 2 di olafateij of reference, de- "ie applied cylinder lo, but, of course. the eiy dej 'erployedgifi any other streiftlikejiide structure, 'entirely nee of' shaft i cylinder.

The numeral I2 indicatesv vice, gen' and Vit 'is composed "f wo nlaln' parts, bevupper c :l'ojted vessel' orlonir'iber I3, which Ifeell trie j "ir look ih-einher, and lower delllike downwardly 'open stifr'ietdfe Vdied tothe loottdrn of the airlock chamber 13, 1 et it, which I 'preferably chamber. air

what and preferably df cylindrical shape, having side wall i5, e top' 16, and e. heavier' bottoni l1, forming an entirely closed strdotre which, Howe evj will be 'provided with an opening and; tightly ealing door for' ent-rence or exit, as will@ be understood (not'snown).

The working chamber' |14'- is pra'ctic'ally'in the call the' working lool; chanter iepieferebly, semer off arldownwardly open peil, preferably yalso of cylindrical shape, pertiedldrl'y if it is to .be lowered into e eylinder lo, 'and having the side weil la' erratel o. Theft'op nreferebiylies afl eentralop irig 2"| and it is s eciired' to tn' yyY ot-torn l] if the doper air lock cham- "eet ner; at the -sa'me time the' connection may be' comparatively easily and `quickly' released from the inside' of a* closed air-lock chamber, and trifeeby" lair leek ehe-diner seperated froid the kin'g' 'am fit; 'when desired. The Spee cinc Vc`on'strll` lonf- `of the Securing means` 22'; shown inthe present einitiodl'ne'n-ty of my in'v'ene tio, 'willbedescribd more" detail hereinafter. Y' been nt'ioned," the present inverti mod ic ion of a-'n improvement ori-'a'.iiy application-to* sp inc objects of the nderly idee (io-pending appli-tation for' Metrifdd and Means' `iol' Underwater Constr'll'cticn", l'ed Adgt'st 1=, 1946-, serial No. 687,751, vand it willbe s'ee'n that in said co-pending application, I also describe an all" lock chamber anda downwardly ndicate'd iri general 'arrower' than' the working chamber 1'4,

` screw',

for causing the air lock chamber to Vrise to the surface without any hoisting mechanism.

For controlling the buoyancy of the device, I employ in the modification illustrated an ulO- wardly and downwardly sldable inner or lining cylinder 23 around the wall of the working chamber, said inner lining cylinder 23 having ,means to secure it in said working chamber in an upwardly and downwardly slidable manner, and it Y will be obvious that, when my device is in the water, van upward movement of said'rcylinder 23 intoithe working `chamber t8 will cause my device to"displace asmaller volume of water, thereby reducing its buoyancy, and a downward orV outward movement of said cylinder will cause the same to displacel added amounts of water, when the working chamber i is completely lilled with air, 'therebyY increasing theYA upward lift' or buoyancy in my device.'Y 'iv In the embodiment shown, the cylinder 23 is closely tting and sliding onvthe inner surface of the working chamber wall I8, and two triangulllly, upwardly widening 'lugs 24 are secured to its upper end, preferably in diametrically opposite places; and spaced apart from the wall I8, as indicated at 25.

The upward lugs 24 terminate in horizontal heaviertop'plates 26, and a lifting or lowering rotatably secured' in each plate 26. seen inthe drawing,'said operating screw 2l will havea narrowe'rlower termination 2'8, the upper V portion"-thereof being smooth 'and frot'atable in anwaprture iny the plate, 26while the lower part thereof `is screw threaded asat 29, and 4'ar'1i71t3/l) threaded'on it, closedlo'n the ,plateV 216,'fa'nd locked'insuchV a position, whereby the'screw 21 is rotatablyV and safely secured to the plate 26.` Y Screw 'A2'I'is of considerable lengthand screw threaded from ltop to bottom,y having means adapted t0 beepplied t0 its,Y .weer end. 3 L'Wller'ebrf torotate it 'in one` or the other direction.k The screw threaded heavy long Vportion ofthe member 3l :will Pass anapprqeriaie .screw 'threaded bgleiniheheavvrboitom,l1 0f the air lock Chamber. 3, 9J@ Will b9 @3,11 matr-When the ,SCTSWS 2l areV rotated in one direction, they will move upwardly through the threaded holes in the bot- .ifm fand. P1111. the Cylinder 23 upwardly ,into

the, Working, Chamber I4, Y and,v vicarersafwhen the Sagra 211er@ vr iat w1 in the.. Oppesiie directien; they will ,move .downwardly,through-.the heavy. bottom. Head push; the whsder 011iwardly from ft hey working chamber III. i i y .V'Ihe cylinder AV23 Vmayrhavle the thickness and length predeterminedfor z des'ired weight, l,and this `weight is added to the total of the weight ofthe working chamber .I4 andairlock chamber-13. with the Y associated. devices-therein; and` th Abuoyancy caused by. the water' displaced through'ftheV 'device is counteracting .this lweight. "Now, asfthe weight 23 is pulled inwardly,'.the"

amount of water displaced will be reduced, but

generally indicated by the numeral 21, Vis, As clearly' the weight of the whole device will remain, and in such a condition the device will have an added tendency to sink, while if the Weight 23 is pushed outwardly from the working chamber I4, and the working chamber is completely lled with air, the amount of water displaced will be increased, increasing the upward force or lift caused thereby, while the weight of the device will remain the: same, vlso the device Ywill have a reduced tendency to sink, and in an appropriate case, when the dimensions and weights are appropriately designed, it may even have an upwardtendency greater than its weight, in which case it will automatically rise to the surface of the water.

In this manner, the buoyancy of my combined air lock chamber I3 and working chamber I4 may be controlled, and in appropriate cases, the device may be caused to sink or to rise automatically, and it may evenv be entirely balanced so that it will float at any desired depth in the water, and remain so floating. Of course,'instead of a movableccylinder 23, individual weights may be secured on the lugs' 24, and more than two of 'them maybe employed around the circumference of the working chamber I4. Y v

It also will be obvious that the upwardly and downwardly slidable weight, whether the cylinder 23 or individual weights, may be made detachable ,from the lugs 24, so that-in a desired case', the ,weights may be entirely dropped, and greatly increasing the upward buoyancy of the device, and causingthe same to rise to the surface, as desired:

.Like in the device of the mentioned co-pend'- ing application, a high pressure air line 32 may be introduced into my air lock chamber` I3, from the surface, and, as shown, it may pass through the bottom I'I into the working chamber I4, where it may have a manifold 33 with appropriate branches, with valves or other closure devices, as indicated at 34. v Y

' Another lower pressure airline may also be introduced from the surface into the air lock chamber for keeping the air pressure in said'chamber Vas desired, and the other usual connections, like telephone, electric light, and power, etc., may also be made from the air lock chamber to the surface, as will be obvious, andl has been .shown in my said co-pending application, and IA prefer tointroduce all these connections through one tube in the top I6 of the air lock chamber, as partly Yindicated at 35, the rest of such lines and connections having been omitted from the drawings for the sake of clearness.

vAn opening 36 may be arranged in the bottom I1 of the air lock chamber for communication with the working chamber I4, and an appropriate air andwater tight inwardly opening door may be provided Vfor the same, as will be understood.` (Not shown.) v

In the embodiment shown, the central portion of the'top 20 of the working chamber is open, as indicated a't' 2|, and said communicating opening and door 36 may register with a portion of the opening' 2|, as well as the various air, telephone, and electric lines may pass in a sealing manner through the bottom I'I of the air lock chamber and then through said opening 2l into the working chamber, where there may be facilities arranged thereon for any efficient use of the same by the workingman descending into said chamber.

A muck discharge pipe 3l may also pass through the air lock chamber I3, sealingly through itstopl close the same when not in use, and when it Amavf cause` `the airto escape therethrough from the air chamber, if noty closed.

. When my combined air lock chamber and working chamber are lowered to the bottom, the working chamber I4 may belled with water, thereby aiding the descent, and When desired, the water maybe iorcedout of the same, and for this purpose anr air connection 39 isarranged through thebottom `I1 of the air lock chamber, .having a normally closed va1ve'40 therein, and 'when said valve -is open, the air, under considerable pressure `in the chamber I3, will pass in-to the working Chamber and will vgradually drive the water therefrom. j y

On the other hand, when it is desired to again decrease the buoyancy of the device, valve 4@ will be Closed and the pipe 4| used for dischargv ing the air from the working chamber. Said pipe is provided witha valve 42, and communicates with` the working chamber, being sealingly set into, the bottom I1 of the airV working chamber.

VBranoh 43 thereof will goto the outside through the wall ,l5 of the air lock chamber, also having a valve 44 inserted therein. Pipe 4I may also communicate with the air in the air lock chamber I3,V so that when the valve 44 is closed. and Valve 452 is open,` pipe 4I will have the same role as pipe38, and willvalso let air into thefworking chamber, thereby speeding up the evacuation of the water therefrom.

If, however, valve j-is closed and valves 42 and 43 are open, theA air from theworking chamber vI4 will have a free exit to the outside through the pipe 43, and will permit `the entry of the water into the working chamber.

A valve 45 may also be employed, if the pipe 4I is open to the working chamber I3, to close said lopening when the inundationof the work- .SII

ing vchamber is desired, and the air therefrom Y is to be evacuated through the pipe 43.`

In Fig. 6 I show the construction of the releasablev securing means 22 between the bottom I1 of the air lock chamber and thetop of the working chamber.

First of all, I may provide registering grooves 46 and 41 in the top of the working chamber and the bottom of the air lock chambenrespectively, and insert a sealing ring 48 thereinto which will be compressed when the bottom I1 of theupper chamber and the top 20 of the lower chamber are drawn to one another, as will be described presently.

For every securing means 22, registering apertures 49 and 50 are provided in the bottom I1.`

and top 20, respectively, anda long threaded screw or bolt 5| passes therethrough. -A nut 52 is permanently secured on the top 20 of the working chamber, as by welding 53, registering with the hole 5D, and a sealing cap 5,4 is similarly permanently welded over the bottom I1 for the opening 49A therein, said cap having anaperture.

55 4in its top and said screw or bolt 5I passing through said cap and through its opening 5.5,. A

round lower locking nut `56 is rotatablewithin the'.

cap 54, and a second upper lockingnut 51 ieover the cap 54. Theyscrew or bolt 5I., finally, isY pro? videdwith a head 58.

Now, whenvit is desired to secure the top 20 of the working chamber I4 to the bottom I1 of the air lock chamber, the `screw 5I will bethreaded downwardly until it passes through the lower stationary nut 52, as indicated at 59, whereupon the.

upper locking nut 51 will be strongly driven against the top of the sealing cap 54, and through 'thisiarrangement the top 20 will be *stronglyV drawn against the bottom I1 and the two secured .in that position, as indicated in Fig. 6.

When it is desired to release the top 20 fromV the bottom I1, the screw 5I will be rotated in the opposite direction, thereby withdrawing the *same from the stationary lower nut 52 and thereafter through the top 20. In such a rotation, however, the screw 5I will carry the intermediate nut 56 rotating with it untill the same arrives against the shoulder 6D in the top of the sealing cap 54,.v when said nut will be strongly pressed against iti throughin an opposite manner, and the situa- A tion will be as illustrated in Fig. 6.

A plurality of such securing screws 22 may be employed, and in the embodiment shown, eightof them are indicated.

Referring now again tothe adjustable weighty y 23 in the working chamber I4, which, as has been mentioned, in this embodiment is in the form "of a cylinder closely but slidingly tting onjthe wall of the working chamber, the upper portion of said cylinder may be recessed, leaving a small space 69a between the wall I8 of the working chamber and the upper portion of the cylindrical slidable weight 23, and in said space an appro-` priate slidable sealing or stufng material may be employed rto prevent an escape 'of the air between the two sliding metal elements.

In the embodiment of my invention, as shown 1 in the drawing, particularly Fig. 1, I may employ a downward addition orskirt 6I secured on the sliding cylinder weight 23, also being in the form of a cylindrical sheet steel body, however, possi- ,bly thinner than the weight 23 and having the peculiar'shape and contour shown in Fig. 1.

As seenl in said gura'the upper portion of said skirt ,6Il may have va flange 62 continued in a straight cylindricalv portion 63, which again zis downwardly continued in a concave angular bottom portion 64. An inflatable tubular body 55, Y preferably of rubberyis secured on the straight l cylindrical portion 63, between the upper branch of the angular termination 64 and the flange 62.

,Ihe space within said inflatable tube may be connected to the manifold-33 of the high pressure air, asby the mentioned flexible tube 34, having i a valve 66 inserted therein. When said valve is open, the high pressure air will inflate the tubeA 65, and theVA same will be strongly pressed both` against theskirt 6I andagainat the cylinder I0,

forming the shaft for the underwater construc- In this manner, an airtight. seal .provided if between .the,cylinder` Ill andtheworking chema 7. ber I4,'so that the avir'pressure therein may entirely drive the water out from said chamber through-the bottom II, as will be obvious, and then further excavations may be effected on said bottom, deepening the shaft, whereupon the whole device may be lowered with the depth of the new excavations as indicated by the imaginary dot and dash line position Sla, of said skirt.

, I also may form a platform grid structure, generally indicated by the'numeral 81 (Figs. l, 4 and secured on the angular lower termination 64 of the skirt 6l, and for this purpose, in the embodiment shown, I may employ three bars 68, each being made of two vertically set individual bars 69, connected by reinforcing cross pieces 18 and having a pivot hole 'H at one end, and an upper horizontal cross member 12 at the other end.

Three diametrically opposite pairs of vertical plates 13 and 14 are arranged around the circumferenceof the lower portion of the skirt El, the one marked with 13 being adapted to receive a pivot pin for the pivot hole 1| in the respective bar 68, while the vertical plates 14 will have the shoulders 15 formed therein, on which Athe transverse horizontal plate 12 inthe respective bar may rest.

The pairs of the respective elements in thev opposite pivot and securing plates for them are set in three planes, one above the other, and when the bars are pivotally turned downwardly over and resting on the opposite shoulder 15, as'shown in Fig. 4, they form a kind of a platform which in many operations is useful or necessary for the man working in the chamber I4.

When, on the other hand, it is desired to keep the lower end of the working chamber entirely free, said bars may be swung upwardly on their pivots 13, as indicated at 69a in dot and dash line imaginary position of one of them, and a releasable securing pin 16 may be provided for them on the sliding weight 23.

As has been mentioned, by manipulating the water content of the working chamber I4 and by manipulating upwardly or downwardly the weights 23 therein, the buoyancy of the whole device may be adjusted, and when it is desired to move my combined air lock ch-amber'and working chamber to the surface, possibly without the aid of any mechanical hoisting mechanism, I may employ Van inflatable comparatively large ring shaped tube 11 at the topof the -air lock chamber I3.

As will be seen in Figs. 1 and 3, a steel cage construction 18 may be secured on the top, as

indicated and the inflatable tube 11, arranged therebetween, preferably secured to the top I6 of the air lock chamber. A pipe 19 may beV branched off the high air pressure line 32 adjacent to said top of the air lock chamber, and one continuation 88 thereof will lead into the inilatable lifting tube 11, while another continuation 8| thereof will lead to the outside.

Now, when it is desired to inflate the tube 11, valve 82 in the pipe 19 will be opened, permitting the high pressure air to pass through the same. Valve 83 in the outward line 8| will be closed, and valve 84 in the line leading into the lifting tube 11 will be opened, and the same will be inflated. In such an inflated condition, it exerts a predetermined amount of lifting force on the device, which may be suicient to raise the same or, in case it is desired to keep it floating, will counterbalance the downward gravity thereof. strong additional securing bolts may connect the top of the air lock chamber with the cage 18, so that the lifting force of the tube 11 maybe releasably and safely transmitted to the air lockV It will be seen that, when these jacks are moved outwardly in the screw threads of the lugs 86, 1

their outer pointed ends 88 will engage the material of the cylinder ll) and lock my device against upward or downward movement, while, if it is de-" sired to move the same in either direction, said screw jacks may be released, as will be obvious.

As has been mentioned,'I may easilyseparate my compressed air lock chamber i3 from the working chamber i4, and the air lock chamber may independently rise or be lifted to the surface,

leaving the working chamber at the place of the Y operation. In such a position, by obvious means well known to those versed in this art, the working chamber may be provided with a closed top and door, independent air, telephone, electric power, and similar lines, so that working men even may be left in the working chamber and continue to operate, while the air lock chamber is lifted for some reason. When desired, the working chamber may be withdrawn independently to the surface or'the air lock chamber may be lowered and again secured on the workingy chamber.

It also will be obvious that the excavation and sinking operations may be continued even while the working chamber is left at the bottom of the shaft or cylinder, and that in either case, whether f the air lock chamber is on the working chamber or separated therefrom, the sinking of the shaft or cylinder may continue, while the men are acting in said chamber. Indeed, in case cylinder'lll would be employed as shown in the drawing, said cylinder may be hammered at the top, as usual, and as has been more fully described in my said co-pending application, and the cylinder lowered or kept sinking by such hammering, while the men are working, which is an entirely novel feature, possible only through my device in combination with a cylinder for a shaft.

It also will be seen that all the devices and operations to influence the buoyancy of my device are such that the center of gravity of the same will be kept low, insuring'the stability forvit inV any position.

Outwardly or inwardly movable screw jack securing means 81 may engage such a cylinder, as `has been described, but they also may engage any other structure into which my working chamber is lowered, or the rock therearound, if the operations are of such a nature.

While I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that changes and variations may be resorted to in the elements, combinations and operation of my invention, and I reserve my rights to such changes and variations as` are within the spirit 0f this specification, and the scope of the claims hereunto appended-Y I also want it to be understood that when, in this specication and the claims hereunto appended, the .expression underwater is used, itl

obviously means any other liquid medium, like under oil.

It is also obvious that, when desired, my invention may be constructed in such a manner that the buoyancy controlling weights 23, or any other weights, may simply be dropped from the device when it is desired to quickly increase its buoyancy.

What I claim as new, and want to protect by Letters Patent of the United States, is: y

1. In a shaft to be sub-aqueously sunk, an up wardly and downwardly movable operational device comprising an air lock chamber, a downwardly open work chamber secured underneath the same, means to place said air lock chamber under compressed air pressure, communication between said air lock chamber and working chamber whereby workmen may descend from the air lock chamber into said working chamber, means to place said working chamber under compressed air pressure from said air lock chamber when desired, and means to vary the buoyancy of said device whereby the same may descend, rise or float at a predetermined level in said shaft as desired, said device being adapted to so move through said control of its buoyancy entirely independent of any outside means to raise or lower the same, said means to influence the buoyancy of the device including members inwardly and outwardly slidable on the wall of said'working chamber through its open bottom.

2. In a device, as set forth in claim 1, means in said air lock chamber to control said inwardly and outwardly movable slidable members.

3. In a shaft to be sub-aqueously sunk, an upwardly and downwardly movable operational device comprising an air lock chamber, a downwardly open work chamber secured underneath the same, means to place saidair lock chamber under compressed air pressure, communication between said air lock chamber and working chamber whereby workmen may descend, rise or float at a predetermined level in said shaft as desired, said device being adapted to so move through said control of its buoyancy entirely independent of any outside means to raise or lower thesame, said means to place the air lock chamber under compressed air pressure including yielding pipe linesV to the surface, a center tube leading from the working chamber to the surface for removing material from said working chamber, and meansto influence the buoyancy of the device including a deflatable or inflatable ring shaped hollow element secured on the top of said air lock chamber, said pipes and tube to the surface being encircled by said inflatable ring shaped element.

4. In a shaft to be sub-aqueously sunk, an upwardly and downwardly movable operational 10' device comprising an air lock chamber, a downwardly open work chamber secured underneath the same, means to place said air lock chamber .under compressed air pressure, communication betweeny said air lock chamber and working chamber whereby workmen may descend from the air lock chamber into said working chamber, means to place said working chamber under compressed air pressure fromsaid air lock chamber when desired, and means to vary the buoyancy of said device whereby the same may descend, rise or float at a predetermined level in said shaft as desired, said device being adapted to so move through said control of its buoyancy entirely independent of any outside means to raise or lower the same, an inflatable hollow ring member secured around the outside of the bottom of the wall of the working chamber adapted when inflated to provide a sealing between the bottoms of the working chamber and of the shaft, respectively, whereby an entirely dry working chamber may be produced by compressed air over the bottom ground operated on.

5. In a shaft to be sub-aqueously sunk, an upwardly and downwardly movable operational device comprising an air lock chamber, a downwardly open work chamber secured underneath the same, meansto place said air lock chamber under compressed air pressure, communication between said air lock chamber and working chamber whereby workmen may descend from the air lock chamber into said working chamber, means to place said working chamber under compressed air pressure from said air lock chamber when desired, and means to vary the buoyancy of said device whereby the same may descend, rise or float at a predetermined level in said shaft as desired, said device being adapted to so move through said control of its buoyancy entirely independent of any outside means to raise or lower the same, a removable grid for the bottom of the working chamber comprising rods placed thereacross, said rods being pivoted at one of their ends on the wall of the working chamber whereby said rods may be folded along the wall of the working chamber when it is desired to remove the grid.

CHARLES GOODMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITEDv STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 962,019 Flood June 21, 1910 1,018,725 Moore Feb. 27, 1912 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 295,877 Germany 1917 

